Lampstand for clocks



Jan. 8, 1946. B, P. RUCKER 2,392,696

LAMP STAND FOR CLOCKS I Filed Aug. 25 1944 Patented Jan. 8, 1946 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE? LAMPs'rANnFoR CLOCKS Parks Rucker, Chicago, Ill. Application' Agustzs, 1944,*seria1 No. 551,087

' 1 claim. V(orario-6.43)

:This invention relates to a lamp base for clocks and its principal object is the provision of a base dior supporting a yclock or other time piece adjacent a concealed or shielded electric lamp which, when the circuit thereof is closed, casts its rays of light only upon the clock face whereby one can observe the time in the dark whenever it is desired to ascertain the time.

` It is of no uncommon occurrence for one to wish to know the time during. the night, and in a dark room this can only be done by turning on alight to illuminate the clock face. This sudden change from darkness almost always'awakens or disturbs any other person occupying the same room.

` In accordance with my invention, the base contains a source of electrical energy, such' as one or more electric dry cells in series with an electric lamp contained in the base but arranged to cast its light rays through an opening in the top of the base and only upon the clock face. The electric circuit for the dry cells and lamp runs through a conductor cord to a push buttongor other electric switch located adjacent the user in convenient position to be grasped and manipulated.

Another object is to provide a novel ,support for the dry cells which support also makes electrical connection therewith and electrically connects them in Vseries with an electric lamp andpush button. l

Another object is to provide a lamp base for .I

clocks which is simple, inexpensive, easy to constructand assemble and is not likely to become out of order. K

With these and other objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing accompanying this speciiication, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a lamp base for clocks embodying a simple form of the invention and showing a clock supported thereby;

' Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view looking at the lower side of the base with a certain cover or closure removed; and y Fig. 4 is a. diagrammatic view illustrating the lamp circuit.

Referring to said drawing, the reference character 5 designates a rectangular iiat hollow base having a top wall 6 and side and end walls 1, 8 projecting down therefrom. Extending up from the top wall along its rear and ends and along the midportion of the top wall is a rib 9 which takes the form of a rectangle that deiines a depression in which a conventional alarm clock designated by the reference character I0 may be placed. The rectangular rib serves to prevent the clock from sliding oi the base.

projectingboss II, I2is, an opening I3, the axis of which is inclined toward the center of the clock face. De-

sirably this opening hasone part I4 of larger diameter than the part I5 thereby leaving a shoulder I6, the purpose of which/will be presently explained. The part I5 of the opening flares outwardly and its outer margin is formed of such size as to confine the light rays' from the herein described electric lamp substantially to the clock face whereby no other part of the surroundings win ,be illuminated.

Seated upon theshoulder I6 of the opening I3 is an electric lamp socket I8 and secured inthe socket is an electric lamp I9, the screw shell `of which screws into the screw shell of the socket. The socket is held upon thel shoulder I5 by an arm 2l, preferably` soldered or welded to the socket and functioning also as an electrical conductor for the electric circuit. The lamp and socket are further held at the proper angle of inclination to bring the major axis cf the lamp in line with the center of the clock face.

A second arm 22 is employed for this purpose. This arm 22 is removably secured to the underside of the top wall 6 by a binding post 23 and nut 24, the binding post extending through a hole in the top wall and the arm having a concave part 25 that bears against the center contact of the lamp. The arm 22 inclines downward from the underside of the top wall at a suitable angle to enable the concave part of the arm to be yieldably pressed against the center contact piece of the lamp.

Secured on the underside of the top wall 6, as by a screw 26 and nut 21, is a metal plate 28, the opposite ends of which are formed with dawnwardly projecting resilient wings29, 30, adapted to hold between them several electric dry cells 3|, 32, two being shown. The plate 28 may also be formed with downwardly extending tongues 33 which may extend partially around the dry cells to further insure them against accidental displacement.

Between the wing 30 and adjacent poles of the dry cells are interposed contact pieces 34, 35 which are partly enclosed in a fiat piece of insulating material 36'.V The contact pieces 34, 35- are exposed to the adjacent poles of the dry cells` Y and make contact `therewith. The tensionof the wings'29, 30 holds the dry cells and contact pieces 34, 35 rmlyinplace.

The contact piece 35 is extended in the form of the arm 2| to the lamp socket and is soldered or welded thereto, and the contact piece 34 is extended inthe form of an arm 38 which ls setopwallG by a bindingv post 39 and' nut Y4I).

The two lines 4i, 42 of an extension cord 43 oneline being fastened to the binding-post 39 byY the nut 40 and the other line being fastened to the binding post 23 by the nut 24,.v On the other end of the extension cord is a push buttonk 45. of

Y extend through a hole in the wall 1 of the ba'se,- y

any desired construction. The extension'cord is" Y of suitable length to run from the base to a place convenient to the user, for instance to the head A 'cardboard '46"or otherlsheet'fof suitable material serves to enclose Vand protect the parts contained in ythe'ybase. The sheet 46 may be held "in placeon corner pieces 41 ofthe base by a nut "48 threaded upon the screwv 276. Y

The electrick circuit for the device may-be readily tracedygfrom the push Vbutton 45 through one line ".4 lj offthe extension cord to the `contact piece I I 34, thence'through the dry cell 3|, wing 29, the drycell32; contact Vpiece'35, lampsocket I8, lamp I9 .and contact piece 22 and the other line Y42 Vof the extensioncord tothe push button.

spirit of my invention; henceI 'do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form,

construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned. f

What I claim as new Yand desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

In a lamp Ibase for clocks, a hollow base having a topwall for supporting a clock, said top wall Vbeing formed with bosses, one above and one below` the top wall and there being an opening throughsaid bossedfp'art of Ythe 'top wall; the-axis of which inclinesv toward lthe face of the'clock,

' than the other part which denes an annular said opening havingone part of greater diameter shoulder, anelectric' lamp socket in said opening and bearing against said shoulder, an Velectric lamp in said socket, a contact piece Ysecure'dto the underside of the top wall and bearing against ,n

the centerY contact of the lamp whereby to hold the socket againstusaidshoulder, a' pair of aligned contact pieces, one of'which has an arm rigidly Y secured to-said socket, a sheath of non-conduct- A person 'wishing to'ascertain the time presses the 'push button, thereby closing the circuit to 'the' lamp which projects its light rays through Vthe opening I3 .and upon the clockace, thereby `i1luminating^the,samewithout illuminating the Vrest of the room. Y l Y ,The base may be formed of Bakelite or other thermoplastic material.

It isv simple indesign and v'easyntomold The metal parts are simple stampings'a'nd the other parts are standard, ob-

tainable inV the open'- market;v The parts are easily. assembled and therenti re Idevice may be Y Vmanufactured at alow cost.

l. Fromtheaboveit is apparent that Ihave proing materialv partly enclosing said pairof contact pieces, a metal plate securedto the underside-of thetopwall and being formed( with parallel downwardly projecting resilient wings,fdry cells with.Y certain of their poles contacting'withjsaid pair of contact'pieces'and other polesncontacting Y with one'of said wings, ythe other wing bearing against 'said sheath to hold said pair of contact 'pieces' in contact with the adjacent poles 'of the dry cells, an extension cord, one line of jwhich Y leads tothe first mentioned Contact piecel and .pair off contact pieces, and a push button other end ofthe exterior cord.

the otherlineofwhich leads tothe other'of the on'the BENJAMIN PARKSy RCKR. 

